Here we are at the start of yet another new month and what’s new with you? It’s the eleventh month of 2021 and if you look back over the first ten, what have you done differently? Are there new initiatives that you put in place to advance your career in music or as a content creator? If not, what are you waiting for?
If you look back to this time last year or even to six months ago and you’re still just in a wash-rinse-repeat routine yet unhappy with the results, there are people you can and should turn to for help.
Last week I had the first of what are going to be regular Peer Calls. I had handpicked a group of people who are in the same line of work as me and pitched each of them individually on the idea of us getting on a phone call or using a videoconference service to team up and help one another. These are folks who I think highly of. They are established with a proven track record of success. I watch with great admiration as they rack up one notable accomplishment after another.
And those are the kind of people you want to align yourself with.
They each loved the idea, and it was just a matter of finding a mutually agreeable date and time. Voila! Just like that, there we all were chatting online via video.
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There would be a temptation to use the initial session to do lengthy introductions and have a bunch of small talk. Heck, there was a tornado warning going on here in Tampa during the time of our call, so we literally could’ve talked about the weather, as some are often tempted to spend too much time on. Instead, we kept the formalities brief and then rolled up our sleeves towards helping one another. I said in a follow-up email to the group that I loved that it felt like we’d been doing this for one year, not one hour.
A group like this can share resources, ideas, contacts, experiences, and seek input from the others with regards to any challenges we have rather than just complain about them, which is an easy trap that many fall into. Rather, state your pain points that keep you up at night, and then listen for the group’s feedback. It’s so much more productive and motivational than people who want to sit around and “top that story” by interjecting an “I feel your pain” complaint.
Who are these people for you?
Notice that I said I gathered people who are in the same line of work as me. Are you hesitant to do so because you look upon them as competition? If so, that’s the wrong view and it’s likely getting in the way of you making the progress that you feel is lacking.
Equally important for the success of such a group is to ‘meet’ regularly. Whether once a month, bi-weekly, or whatever you all agree on, consistency will be key. But so too will being a man/woman of your word and following through on “I’ll email that to you” or other similar promises made during your call. Keeping in touch in between the calls will also help you exercise the muscle that ensures you don’t (only) show up to each call with your hand out.
Everyone’s time is valuable, so you want to maximize the opportunity you do get to ‘be together,’ so to speak. And by the way, this exercise will also help make you a better listener because to help out the others you need to understand what they’re looking for.
Plus, this will help you have a much broader view. While yes, there was someone else on the Peer Call last week who’s also here in the Tampa Bay area, I also tapped someone from out in Los Angeles and someone from up in New York. So, like so many other things you might be doing, don’t limit yourself.
Who do you admire and would like to have more regular interaction with in the way that I’ve described above? Start formulating a short list and take action on pulling some folks together to draw ideas and inspiration from.
You can also come to ME for help with your career in music, podcasting, or related field. Take advantage of my more than 15 years running Now Hear This, Inc., including hosting "Now Hear This Entertainment" for more than seven-and-a-half years. Book a private, one-on-one, online video consultation with me and let’s keep you moving forward in your creator career. And don’t forget to share your thoughts about this blog via a post on Facebook or on Twitter or LinkedIn. Alternatively, you’re welcome to contact me directly through email.